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Posted August 29, 2014 12:03 am - Updated August 29, 2014 05:03 pm

Finally: Football has a playoff

The 2015 playoffs (after the 2014 season)

Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long, chairman of College Football Playoff selection committee, responds to questions during a news conference where the 12 members selected to the committee were announced, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, in Irving, Texas. Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne and College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning along with Long, are among the 13 people who will be part of the College Football Playoff selection committee in 2014. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

Gould

Alvarez

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

FILE - This combo of undated file photos shows 12 of the 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee that were announced on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013 by committee chairman Jeff Long, the athletic director at Arkansas. Top row, from left, Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez, former superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy retired Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, Southern California athletic director Pat Haden, former NCAA executive vice president Tom Jernstedt, West Virginia athletic director Oliver Luck, and Hall of Fame quarterback Archie Manning. Bottom row, from left, Nebraska athletic director Tom Osbourne, Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, former Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese, former USA Today college football reporter Steve Wieberg, and former college football coach Tyrone Willingham. The committee will choose four teams in 2014 to play in the national semifinals and seed them. The winners of those games will play a week later for the national championship. (AP Photo/File)

After years of controversy over computers rankings, personal debates over which one-loss team was the best and frustration over lack of a college football playoff to determine a true champion, a selection committee of 13 people has been assembled to rank college football teams more accurately and decide who makes the first College Football Playoff.

The biggest changes besides pitting four teams into a bracket? No team can automatically qualify for the playoff, and there is no limit on the number of teams from a single conference.

“The format of this playoff is very simple,” Executive Director of the College Football Playoff Bill Hancock said. “The best four teams (play) two semifinals in bowl games and the championship game at an iconic stadium around the country.”

The 2015 playoffs (after the 2014 season)

Semifinals

Jan. 1

Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl

Championship

Jan. 12

at AT&T Stadium, Arlington

The Cotton, Peach, Fiesta and Orange bowls will be part of a rotation for the semifinal games in future years.

The selection committee

Jeff Long, chairman

Vice chancellor and athletic director

University of Arkansas

Term expires February 2018

(members serve three-year terms)

Barry Alvarez

Wisconsinathleticdirector

Feb. 2017

Lt. Gen.

Mike Gould

Former superintendent of the Air Force Academy

Feb. 2016

Pat Haden

Universityof Southern California athleticdirector

Feb. 2016

Tom Jernstedt

Former NCAA executive vice president

Feb. 2018

Oliver Luck

West Virginia athleticdirector

Feb. 2017

Archie Manning

Former proand college quarterback (at Ole Miss)

Feb. 2017

Tom Osborne

Former head coach and athletic director at Nebraska

Feb. 2016

Dan

Radakovich

Clemsonathleticdirector

Feb. 2018

Condoleezza

Rice

Stanford professor, former U.S. Secretary of State

Feb. 2017

Mike Tranghese

Former Commissioner of the Big East Conference

Feb. 2016

Steve Wieberg

Former college football reporter,USA Today

Feb. 2018

Tyrone

Willingham

Former head coach at three schools

Feb. 2018

Terms and Recusals

Generally, members serve three year terms. Terms are staggered for an eventual rotation. Members won’t be eligible for re-appointment.

If a member or one of their immediate family members is compensated by, provides professional services for or is on the coaching staff or administration or is a football student-athlete at a school, that member is recused. Recused member won’t participate in any votes or discussions regarding placement of his or her team into bowls.

Voting Protocol (according to collegefootballplayoff.com)

1 Each committee member will create a list of the 25 teams he or she believes to be the best in the country, in no particular order. Teams listed by three or more members remain under consideration.

2 Each member will list the six best teams, in no particular order. The six teams receiving the most votes will comprise the poll for the first seeding ballot.

3 In the first seeding ballot, each member will rank those six teams, (one through six), with one being the best.

4 The three teams receiving the fewest points will become the top three seeds. The three teams that were not seeded will be held over for the next seeding ballot.

Steps No. 3 and 4 will be repeated until the 25 teams have been seeded.

Rankings released

Every Tuesday starting Oct. 28

Selection Sunday

Dec. 7

Pairingfor semifinals

No. 1 vs. No. 4

No. 2 vs. No. 3

The committee places the top seed at the most advantageous site, considering the convenience of travel for fans, home crowd advantage and other factors.

Pairing for other bowls

All displaced conference champions and the highest ranked champion from a non-contract conference (American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, C-USA and Mid-American) will participate in the other four bowl games over New Year’s. If berths remain after those teams are placed, the highest ranked other teams will fill those openings.